Tuesday, August 20, 2013

The Front Door with a GREEN approach!

With Fall approaching it is that time of the year to start preparing your home for the colder months and what a better place to start then with your front door!! Angelo DiGangi is our guest blogger this month and he going to enlighten us on how to be GREEN when choosing the right doors!!

A Green Welcome

The front
door.It's our welcome home,
the first impression given to visitors, a quick glimpse into our aesthetic
personality. So why shouldn't it also be one of the first places we turn when
considering ways to give our homes a green makeover? Rather than simply pass
through the front door's embrace on our way in or out, let's take a moment to
really consider how to boost the eco-friendliness of this architectural punctuation
mark. We'll begin with the door itself:

The longer a
door can stand proud in its place, the less stress placed on the environment,
so it's important to seek one that's been engineered with durability in mind. I
favor two avenues above all the rest when it comes to selecting an enduring
door.

Behind
door number one:Steeldoors are some of
the strongest and longest-lasting options on the market, since they resist rust
and corrosion. For this reason, they're ideal for homes located in areas of the
country subject to harsh weather like tornadoes and hurricanes. And even though
you're making a safe choice when it comes to materials, you can certainly take
style risks with a steel door, as most come ready to paint in any bold color
you'd like and feature panel embossing for a bit of definition. Just beware
that steel doors may easily dent and can heat up easily if facing direct sun.

Behind
door number two:
While real wood appeals to many homeowners' traditional tastes, wood doors tend
to warp and crack over time and require a great deal of maintenance to ensure a
long life. For a harder-wearing option with a similar look, opt for afiberglassdoor that boasts a wood-like grain
texture and traditional panel detailing while resisting splitting, cracking,
and rotting. And unlike the steel doors mentioned above, a fiberglass front
door can withstand corrosion, rust, and dings from everyday use. With finishes
to mimic mahogany, oak, cherry, and more, these wood lookalikes fit nicely with
craftsman, cottage, and colonial house styles. (If you do still choose real
wood, be sure that the timber comes from a sustainable, managed forest.)

In addition
to paintable surfaces, both steel and fiberglass doors offer homeowners a great
number of design opportunities, including grand heights up to ten feet tall and
period-appropriate decorative glass -- including transoms and sidelights -- to
complement a home's architectural style and maximize natural light (an
eco-friendly perk).

To be sure
that your door will perform smartly over its long life, stick to those that
have earned an Energy Star rating -- you can be certain these doors have
excellent weather-stripping to prevent air seepage; core materials, such as
fiberglass, wood fiber, and polyurethane foam, that will provide superior
insulation; and double- or triple-paned windows that keep outside heat at bay.
(*A note about polyurethane foam: In order to create products that are both
cleaner and safer, many manufacturers have turned to foam that doesn't contain
hydro chlorofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, or formaldehyde.)

Want to up
your green factor even more? Here are five additional things you can do to
bolster the efficiency and environmental friendliness of your entryway:

1. Add
weather stripping.A tight seal around
the frame of your front door helps to minimize air and heat leakage. If you can
see daylight squeezing in around the edges of your door or you feel a draft
when standing in your foyer, then you should install weather stripping around
the frame to create a snug seal. A door draft stopper can also be laid at the
base of the door.

2. Install
a storm door.This secondary door
adds another layer of protection and insulation to your home while also
allowing you to take advantage of milder temperatures (with screen inserts) and
natural light.

3. Cover
your front porch.A portico or awning
above your front door adds depth and dimension to your home's façade while also
reducing the amount of heat from the sun that enters these windows. And by
shading the front door, a roof can also extend the life of the door and help
cool your house.

4. Lay out
a doormat.One of the simplest
steps you can take to green your home is to set out a good doormat, which works
to capture pesticides, fertilizers, oil and gasoline, and other contaminants
from shoes before they cross your threshold.

Angelo
DiGangi is a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs and is a
frequent contributor on doors and windows forHome Depot's website. Angelo's interests
include providing tips oncolor, materials and insulation.Thanks so much Angelo for the tips, now off to Home Depot to shop!!Until next time, w&c designer girl!